News - Leicester Green Party

5th May election results

Thu, 5 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Big thanks to all Leicester Green Party candidates, activists, campaigners, voters and helpers leading up to May 5th - Standing in 22 of the 54 seats, Greens achieved an average of 9.75% of the vote.

Green Candidates Bob Ball (Castle) won 20% and Geoff Forse (Fosse) won 19% of the vote. We also had good results in Thurncourt and Westcotes.

It’s ironic that on the day that the electorate gave a resounding “No” to AV, the results of the Leicester City Council elections demonstrated the need for some form of PR.

Of 54 council seats, 52 were won by Labour, meaning that effectively there is no opposition on the council. This is a 96.3% share of the council seats, yet Labour’s share of the vote was nowhere near this.

Geoff Forse Commented:

"This is a very respectable result especially considering the massive Labour victory and their impressive election machine. Unlike the Lib-Dems and Tories we did not go into meltdown.

"I congratulate Sir Peter Soulsby on his election as Mayor and wish him luck. He has a very difficult challenge facing him. The Green Party will support him when applicable but, if we disagree with his decisions or actions, we will endeavour to make criticisms constructive".

Full results from 5th May for can be viewed at: http://www.leicester.gov.uk/elections2011/wardResults.aspx

Referendum on Mayor

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

GREEN PARTY MAYORAL CANDIDATE
PROMISES REFERENDUM ON MAYOR

Geoff Forse, the Green Party’s mayoral candidate has promised to hold a referendum on whether the people of Leicester want an elected mayor. He promises to hold this referendum within a year of being elected and, if the voters do not want a mayor, he will resign within one month of the referendum.

Geoff said “making such fundamental changes to the way the council is run should only be done with full consultation of the voters of Leicester. This can only be done through a referendum.”

“If elected I will immediately instruct the council officers concerned to start the planning for such a referendum including the wording of the referendum. My preferred date would be the 3^rd May 2012.

He continued “I appreciate that there is a cost to such an election. I will look at ways in meeting the cost including having a small mayoral office, especially as the office may be in place for only one year. As I believe that the people of Leicester should be more involved in major decision making I may also use the opportunity to hold other referendum at the same time.

Geoff can be contacted on his mobile on 07952 252 047 or at home on 0116 2515775 or by e-mail on geoffforse@hotmail.com

We can do something!

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We can do nothing except re-elect Labour

Is wide of the mark, say Greens

The Labour party are hoping to benefit from the unfair and savage Tory-LibDem cuts passed on to the people of Leicester in the council's budget cuts ahead of the Mayoral and local council elections on 5th May. However the Green party, who opposed public service cuts in the last general election, say there is a choice.

Geoff Forse, the Green Party’s mayoral candidate, said: "A Labour government would have made their own cuts albeit at a smaller level and at a slower timescale. The results would still have been a reduction in the services available to the people of Leicester. However the Green party wants to change the tired old politics of the three main parties with a radical alterative. If the voters are happy with things as they are then they have a choice of the three major parties. However, if they want things to change they should vote Green." (1)

Geoff continued "Only by electing a Green City Mayor and Green councillors can people be sure that green policies are implemented and that a principled stand can be made to improve public services, bring green jobs and oppose more unnecessary cuts on the Council. Where Greens are elected, it makes a real difference,"

Geoff finished: "The people of Leicester can have a real chance to bring change and to work for a fairer and green society in two elections on May 5^th."

Geoff can be contacted on his mobile on 07952 252 047 or at home on 0116 2515775 or by e-mail on geoffforse@hotmail.com
Reference:

Geoff Forse is the Mayoral candidate. A total of 22 Green Party candidates are standing in 10 wards across Leicester.

Vote for AV as a vote for change

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

VOTE FOR AV AS A VOTE FOR CHANGE

Geoff Forse is the Green Party’s mayoral candidate and is also standing in Fosse in the local council elections in Leicester on May 5th. (1)

Geoff said: “I’m supporting a ‘Yes’ vote in the AV referendum on May 5th, because it will mean people can start to vote for what they really believe in.

“Alternative vote (AV) is not proportional and not the solution. But AV could challenge the main political parties to worker harder for votes and votes will not be wasted, unlike the current First-Past-the-Post voting system, which it may replace.”

He continued: “While some people maybe tempted to vote ‘No’ to help break the Tory-Lib Dem coalition, I think this referendum is more important than punishing Nick Clegg.”

Geoff finished: “I’m viewing AV as an opportunity to open up the process of bringing change in the political system to make it more democratic and eventually have a democratic written constitution. ”

Geoff can you contacted on his mobile on 07952 252 047 or at home on 0116 2515775 or by e-mail on geoffforse@hotmail.com

Reference:

1. The Green Party has two candidates standing in Fosse ward on the May 5^thCity Council elections - Geoff Forse and Rosie Gordon.

Greens reject pay rise for Mayor

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Greens reject pay rise for city mayor as crass and insensitive

Geoff Forse, the Green Party’s mayoral candidate has promised to freeze his salary at the current council leader's level, if elected on May 5^th. (1)

Geoff said: “At time when the City Council is slashing jobs and services, it is rather crass and insensitive to vote a large salary rise for the mayor, as is the increase in allowances, although small for city councillors.

“Politicians should not only lead, but show people that they understand that many in Leicester will be suffering in these financially hard times and maybe unemployed or threatened by unemployment in either the private or public sectors.”

He finished: “ While we oppose the cuts in city council services, we acknowledge that the impact on council services are in the main, the result of cutbacks being made by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.” (2)

Geoff Can you contacted on his mobile on 07952 252 047 or at home on 0116 2515775 or by e-mail on geoffforse@hotmail.com

Reference:

1. The mayor’s pay will be £20,000 higher than current council leader’s pay, Leicester Mercury, 22.3.2011 http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Fall-mayor-s-salary/article-3356189-detail/article.html

2. Geoff Forse has also promised to hold a referendum on whether the people of Leicester want an elected major. And if the voters do not want a major, he will resign within one month of the referendum.

Greens overtake Lib Dems in Scotland

Sun, 3 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Scottish Green Party has beaten the Lib Dems in a You Gov poll conducted for the Scotsman newspaper. It shows the Scottish Green Party on course to obtain six Members of the Scottish Parliament. Geoff Forse, Green Party Mayoral candidate in Leicester, said:

"This is very welcome news and an encouraging sign ahead of elections in Leicester and elsewhere in the UK.

"Thousands of people who voted Lib Dem last year are feeling let down and looking for a new home following broken promises on VAT, tuition fees and nuclear power.

"The Green Party is the natural home for former Lib Dem voters who want a clean environment, good public services and political reform."

Notes
1. The YouGov poll for the Scotsman newspaper was conducted between 25-28 March 2011, among 1025 Scottish adults.

Scotsman's seat prediction results
- Lab: 57 (+13)
- SNP: 48 (+1)
- Con: 13 (+4)
- Green: 6 (+4)
- Lib: 5 (-11)

Green Party select mayoral candidate

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Green Party has selected Geoff Forse as their candidate for the mayoral election on the 5th May.

Geoff, who is 65, has lived in the Woodgate area of Leicester for over twenty years and has been a long term activist for the Green Party.

He has stood in three general elections, two European elections and in every local election since 1991. He has run the Woodgate Resources Centre for the past twenty years, the last seven years as a volunteer after the loss of funding from the council.

Geoff said "if elected I will work hard to protect the public services of the city, ensure that the voluntary sector is protected and supported and to improve the environment of the city so that it justifies the tag "Environment City".

He continued "One of my greatest criticisms of Leicester City Council over many years is the lack of consultation with the people of Leicester as shown by the Bow Bridge, the football pitches on Aylestone Meadows not to mention the farcical ‘consultation’ on whether to have an elected mayor. Therefore one of my priorities will be to consult with the citizens of Leicester. I am sure there are many good ideas out there and, if elected, I intend to use them.

For further information and interviews, please contact Geoff directly:
Mobile: 07952 252 047

Home: 0116 251577 5

Email: geoff.forse@leicestergreenparty.org.uk

Download a high resolution images of Geoff Forse

Anti-cuts Protest March - London 26 March 2011

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Observations by Bob Ball who was on the march

Trade unionists and supporters of the public sector travelled across England to London for a peaceful protest to stop the Government’s fierce cuts in welfare, which could harm people with least. Parts of education and health are being privatised. With cuts in local government services also, this will destroy more than a million jobs, drives up poverty and inequality.

Members of the Leicester Green Party and other anti-cut protestors travelled by coach from Glenfield, Leicestershire, to assemble at Victorian Embankment, for a 3 mile march to Hyde Park to listen to speakers. There were estimated to be 250,000 to 500,000 protestors on the march.

There were families and older people, and the atmosphere was good-natured, but the anger on the demonstration was real over the cuts.

Among the slogans were:

“Close-down income tax scam” and
“Message from people of Britain to David Cameron – LEAVE”

Over 65 years ago our parents fought to bring in the welfare state, which is now under threat. The Tories aim to finish the work began by Margaret Thatcher in the 90s.

It was ironic that Green’s Caroline Lucas was not invited to speak to the crowd in Hyde Park, but that Labour’s Ed Miliband - who is in favour of cuts - was allowed.

Although the economic deficit needs addressing, we can have a green transition to a more fairer and sustainable society. Cracking down on tax avoidance, scrapping Trident, a windfall tax on bank profits and bankers bonuses, would help reduce the deficit. But reducing the deficit more slowly allows investment in a Green New Deal.

This is a major plan to kick-start the transformation to a post-carbon economy while creating a million new jobs and training places. New jobs would in turn bring in extra revenue to support public spending.

At the end and heading back, at Oxford Street there were protestors outside the retailer, Apple Mac and later a couple of hundred self-styled anarchists were marching, some with sticks towards Oxford Street.

Despite that, the main protest was peaceful and the police seem to handle the day well, handing out information sheets and not wearing riot-gear, was less intimidating.

YES! To Fairer Votes

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Leicester Green Party is supporting the 'YES to Fairer Votes' campaign for a YES vote in the 5th May referendum on the 'Alternative Vote'

This is a PEOPLES’s campaign, not a POLITICIAN’s campaign!

The principle behind AV is just as simple. An election winner should need the support of a majority of the people. So if no candidate commands 50% support, the last placed candidate drops out and their voters’ second preferences come into play. This continues until one candidate has majority support.

For more information on the campaign, please visit the website (and we think it is a very lovely website!). www.yestofairervotes.org

If you wish to help out anyway with this campaign, then please do contact Jack Cregg using: jackcregg@gmail.com

there is also a campaign intern vacancy (unpaid) advertisment here: http://www.w4mp.org/html/personnel/jobs/disp_job.asp?ref=28705

Preserve Aylestone Meadows

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

There is a petion to sign an objection to the building of sports facilities on Aylestone Meadows. You can also view the planning proposal, which has been amended.

View/Sign the online petition against building on Aylestone Meadows.

Deadline for submission of comments on planning application 20090772 have passed, but you can still view details of the planning application:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20090772

Debate between political parties at the `Green Light` Festival

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Green Light is a one-day festival to celebrate and showcase sustainable living in Leicester.

During the day, there will be a debate between the main parties, and our our own Geoff Forse has been invited.

People of various positions in the other parties are yet to be confirmed, so please check the programme on the Green Light Festival Website .

See you there!

Leicester Green Party welcomes NHS call for 20mph limits

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Health directors’ new report agrees with long-standing Green Party policy(1)

The Green Party this morning welcomed a new NHS report (2) on road deaths and injuries which strongly recommends a general 20 mph speed limit, without humps and bumps, on all residential roads.

At Leicester City Council meeting of 26th June 2008, the Council agreed to 20mph speed limit around schools, as proposed by former Green Party councillors Matt Follett and Phil Gordon.

Directors of Public Health in the North West have produced the report, which draws attention to the high rates of death and injury on roads in the region where children are more likely to be injured in road traffic collisions than anywhere else in the country.

Leicester Green Party spokesperson Geoff Forse commented:

“This is an incredibly important report from NHS Directors of Public Health. It says we have a serious problem with death and injury on the roads and it says the solution is a 20-mph limit. I agree.

“The report presents compelling evidence that lives could have been saved and injuries reduced if 20 mph limits had been introduced, which is why we are calling for a city-wide 20mph speed limit on all residential roads in Leicester.”

The reports main points include:

Child casualty information shows that two-thirds of children who are killed or seriously injured on the roads are boys.
Over four-fifths of child casualties occur on roads that have a speed limit of 30 mph, and statistical modelling shows that up to 140 killed or seriously injured child casualties could be saved each year if 20 mph speed limits had been applied in these areas.

Other regions in the country may have slightly better records than in the North West, said the Greens, but they would be advised to follow the 20-mph policy to reduce road deaths further.

Notes

In June 2008 the Green Party introduced 20mph limit around schools in Leicester.
The full report, Road Traffic Collisions and Casualties in the North West of England, was produced by the North West Public Health Observatory in conjunction with NHS North West, the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, the Child and Maternal Health Observatory and the Trauma and Injury Intelligence Group. See http://www.nwph.net/nwpho/Publications/Forms/rta.html.

For further information or interviews, please contact us

Undemocratic: Labour push through consultation for mayor

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On Friday 19.11.10, Labour Councillors carried out an historic and shameful act and denied 215,000 people in Leicester a vote on whether they want an elected mayor.

Instead, 34 Labour Councillors pushed through a decision to start a public consultation for an elected mayor, with only two Labour Councillors voting against.

It was historic because the city could be run with a totally different method of local government.
Denying people the right to decide in a referendum on whether or not to have an elected mayor is shameful and fundamentally undemocratic.

The plan for a mayor, delayed since July, is now being rushed through. There has been no scrutiny of the decision and its implications. There are only 11 working days for a consultation, which is not enough time to inform people on the issues in the run-up to Christmas.

The Labour Party says an elected mayor will reinvigorate local politics and streamline decision-making. A consultation also avoids the £250,000 cost of a referendum.

But that is not a good enough reasons to deny people a referendum. Labour are ignoring the cost of running a mayor’s office and the extra cost of a parliamentary by-election if a Leicester MP is elected as mayor.

The option facing the council is either to have a cabinet with a leader, which is always the leader of the majority group, or to have an elected mayor.

A vote for a mayor would take place on May 5, 2011 alongside the city-wide council elections.

Councillors will consider the results of the consultation on December 9 before making a final decision on December 22.

Nevertheless, a Localism Bill is due out next year from the coalition government, which requires people to vote on plans for mayors. What this does to Labour’s one is uncertain.

Leicester Zero Carbon Concert

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Leicester Green Party have got together with the EcoHouse and local musicians to bring the Zero Carbon World Concert to Leicester.

The Zero Carbon Concert is a series of concerts taking place worldwide on the weekend of 27th and 28th November, just before the next UN climate summit begins in Mexico on 29thNovember 2010.

The event will show the politicians negotiating in Mexico that it’s possible to have a zero carbon world. Being carbon free doesn't mean sacrificing fun. See http://www.zerocarbonconcert.org/ for more details.

EcoHouse, Leicester's environmental showhome on Western Park will play host to a variety of local talent on Saturday 27th November and Sunday 28th November. The fun starts at 12pm on Saturday and 10:30am on Sunday and closes with the EcoHouse at 6pm on both days.

The confirmed line-up so far is as follows:

Saturday 27th November

12:00pm - Rob Gee
12:30pm - Grace & The Magic Roots
1:00pm - Mid Live Crisis
1:30pm - Kevin Hewick
2:00pm - Jonathon Wakefield
2:30pm - Calder McLaughlin
3: 00pm - Sugabeat
4:00pm - Fatbwoi 5
5:00pm - The Black Tears

Sunday 28th November

11:30am - Jonathon Wakefield
12:00pm - Kevin Lee
12:30pm - Paddy Hodgkinson & Co.
1:00pm - Matti Wilson
1:30pm - Paula Driver
2:00pm - Mr Plow
2:30pm - The Orange
3:30pm - Oli Dickinson
4:00pm - Carole Palmer
4:30pm - Chloe Vaughan
5:00pm - The Wry Dogs
5:30pm - Rob Gee

See you there: EcoHouse, Western Park, Hinckley Road, Leicester LE3 6HX - For directions follow the link: http://bit.ly/bQ7X5W

Elected Mayor - Leicester’s X-Factor

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Let people decide on elected mayor?

The Leicester Green Party today criticised Labour for trying to introduce an elected mayor without the support of the electorate of Leicester.

Whilst the Green party is against an elected mayor our main concern at the moment is that there is no referendum to give the voters a chance to decide whether they want and elected mayor or not.

The Leicester Green Party spokesperson, Geoff Forse, said:

"The Labour Party are trying to railroad through a decision, without a referendum on an elected mayor in a 3 weeks public consultation." (1)

"While this manoeuvre may be a way to help keep them in power, it is fundamentally undemocratic to change the electoral system. The voter should decide not the Labour Party." (2)

Geoff ended: "the Green Party oppose an elected mayor because it gives too much power to one person and it can lead to a personality "X Factor" contest. After all, in their first mayoral election, the people of Hartlepool elected a monkey. I am sure Labour are planning to give the people a similar choice"

Reference:

Debate on bid to elect a mayor, Leicester Mercury 15 November 2010.
The public can force a referendum on an elected mayor if five per cent of voters sign a petition.

Further information, interviews:

Geoff Forse, Leicester Green Party Spokesperson: 0795 2252 047 / 0116 251 5775

Or Bob Ball: 0116 221 3224 / 07779 304 081

March in Leicester to defend public sector jobs and services

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Workers in Leicester were buoyed up by seeing over 500 people marching through the city-centre and making it clear they would stand-up and fight massive cuts in public services.

People were defending jobs, which are being slashed across the public sector. The Coalition Government announced on 20 October the most comprehensive programme of cuts (£81billion’s worth) since the Second World War.

The Leicester Green Party activists were out in support and along with the National Green they are campaigning against cuts in public services that threaten their communities.

The march on Saturday, 30 October 2010, assembled at Victoria Park and marched to the Clock Tower in Leicester city-centre, where it concluded with a rally, where one of the speakers was Geoff Forse from the Leicester Green Party.

The event was organised by Leicestershire Against Cuts. For more on the Green Party’s strategy to help the UK leave the recession behind and embark on the creation of a fairer, more stable and sustainable economy, go to: www/greenparty.org

Phil’s memorial tree

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

An oak tree was planted in honour of Green Councillor Phil Gordon on Victoria Park, near the pond on 25 Oct. Phil died suddenly in May 2010 whilst carrying out tree surgery work in Abbey Park.

Various tributes were read-out before planting the oak. The event was attended by friends and people who knew Phil, which was hosted by Leicester University and Phil’s family. This was part of the dedications for Phil in the University's Big Green Week.

Memorial Tree planting

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A memorial tree-planting event for the late Cllr. Phil Gordon has been arranged by the Victoria Park Users Group and is to be hosted by the University of Leicester’s Environment Team and Phil’s family, as part of the University’s Big Green Week.

Friends of Phil and those who knew him are all welcome to join the tree-planting event on Victoria Park.

This will be held at 11am on Monday 25th October.

The tree planting will be followed by refreshments at the University. Big Green Week 2010 is organised by the University and has been dedicated to the memory of Phil. For more information on what’s going on see: www.le.ac.uk/environment

Phil Gordon

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Life is strange. Many of us would probably never know Phil and he wouldn't have been our Councillor if his path had not collided with ours in 2003 on the doorstep of Bob Ball's house during that knife edge local election campaign.

Matt Follett and myself were just leaving Bob's to do some final canvassing before it got too dark.

Phil came to the door to try and recruit us as donors for the Wildlife Trust. I thought, 'Oh no a salesman' and told Matt to hurry up.

However Phil's openess to wanting to talk green issues, his enthusiasm and Matt's energy synthesised to form a relationship that lasted until his untimely death.

I don't think any of us joined his Wildlife Trust and I am so glad that my dismissive protests were ignored. My life, like so many others in the Greens is the richer for knowing Phil.

We had planned to go for a long walk the Saturday before his death. The weather was so foul that Phil cried off saying that he did not want to get ill for work. This time I wish my protests were heard and Phil had got ill for work and I probably wouldn't be writing this now.

Nevertheless even in the short time my family and I knew him, our children loved him. One of the most precious family times we have had was spending an Easter Sunday afternoon with Phil as he guided us around Knighton Spinney identifying all the birds and trees.

My kids were wowed as he spotted woodpeckers and tiny birds that had flown from Africa. We jokily nicknamed him 'Owl Man', which, like with most things, he took in his gentle stride.

Matthew Gough

Please see Phil's tribute group available on facebook

Read the tribute from the Leicester Mercury

Reasons for Older People to vote Green

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It is shameful that Britain's state pensioners, 2 million of whom still live in poverty, are effectively penalised for having savings or private pensions. Meanwhile, grandparents who provide childcare worth £3.9 billion a year, many spending three days a week caring for grandchildren, receive no recognition for their contribution to society. To make matters worse, over-complicated, intimidating, and humiliating means testing is so off-putting that pensioners are leaving up to £2.9 billion of council tax benefits unclaimed.

The other parties have made a few token gestures to older people, but the Green Party alone is committed to making Britain a better place to age in:

The Green Party would end the over complex pension credit system and ensure a decent basic pension for everyone of £170 a week which would be linked to national earnings. We would replace the current system with a simple standard rate pension of £170 p/w, ensuring no older person falls below the poverty line, and get rid of complex means testing. By linking pensions to real national earnings we would ensure that pensions are kept up to date and do not fall behind the rates of inflation or economic growth.

The Green Party would help fight fuel poverty with free insulation. For many older people rising fuel costs for heating are a real problem, the Green Party would help combat these costs with free insulation for everyone.

The Green Party would ensure free personal and nursing care for all older people. So many older people are burdened with huge fees to care for themselves or their loved ones. We believe this is unfair so the Green Party would ensure that the NHS and nursing care are fully equipped to deal with our ageing population.

The Green Party would ensure that older people who want or need to work can do so, easily. The Green Party supports retirement at 65, but feels that people ought to have the freedom to go on working and contributing to society if they wish to, free from discrimination on the basis of their age. We would end the default retirement age and ensure that employment and skills support to allow older workers to cope with the recession was in place.

The Green Party would make Britain a good place to age in. The Green Party would introduce measures to make every day life easier for older people at home, and fight for their rights at an international level, pursuing a bill of rights for older people. We would save our much needed local post offices, and work to make the transport system more accessible and easier to use.

The Green Party is unlikely to sweep into power at this general election, but we have an opportunity to make our presence clearly felt in over 300 constituencies. Why settle for the best of a bad bunch when you can vote Green? Let the major parties know that our innovative and sustainable policies are what this country really needs.

Every vote for the Green Party not only increases our realistic chances of gaining a voice in Westminster, but it's a vote that also puts pressure on the Government to follow our lead.

2010 General election candidates

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Leicester Green Party has announced it will be standing three candidates at the forthcoming general election.

The candidate for Leicester South is Dave Dixey (left), Geoff Forse is standing in Leicester West (centre) and Mo Taylor in Leicester East (right).

Please read more about our candidates and committee here

Greens push for strong Copenhage

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Greens push for strong Copenhagen climate deal at 'The Wave' demo in London - 5 december 2009

Leicester Green Party member Bob Ball attended ''The Wave' which was organised by The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition. Here are his impressions of the day:

"A young climate change sceptic said that climate change was over-egged and Copenhagen was just a conference of the Right to make money.

Even so, there is plenty for green voices not to like. There is an enthusiasm for funding so called "clean coal" with a chance to for corporations to make more money. Half of the EU's funding to help the developing world will be via private sector carbon trading. The UK is only offering £1bn a year in climate change funding to help the developing world.

Also it's been said, if we can't make this work - multilateralism is dead, which will affect all kinds of things like food security, water security and energy security.

Leaving that aside, there was a really big turn-out for the 'Wave' the climate change protest in London, Sunday 5 December. The protest was arranged to send a clear message to governments and politicians attending the forthcoming UN summit in Copenhagen that we want a fair deal for all, the finance and legally-binding emissions cuts.

I went to London with Matt Gough from the Leicester Green Party, along with many other nice people from Leicester and together we had good day helping to get the message out - we need to get an agreement otherwise global society will be damaged.

Go Green not Nuclear

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Leicester Green Party slams the government for its approval of 10 sites for new nuclear power stations.

Leicester Green Party is condemning the Government for approving ten sites for new nuclear power stations and is calling for a nationwide energy conservation programme.

For more than fifty years nuclear power has shown itself to be an overwhelmingly dangerous, unpopular and hugely expensive way of producing electricity.

The local party says the country does not need ten new nuclear power stations.

Spokesperson and Parliamentary Candidate Dave Dixey says: "There is still uncertainty over the safety and technology, as well as the finance."

He continues, "The third generation nuclear reactor being built in Finland has seen its costs double after four years."

"No one knows when it will be finished, due to defects and deficiencies."

"Not only are there no long-term solutions for storage of highly radioactive nuclear waste but, with sea-level rises likely to be worse than predicted, there will be major risks of flooding."

"The stations will have to be constantly guarded from terrorist activity for hundreds of years."

The Green Party has an alternative.

It believes the UK needs a country-wide energy conservation programme, which will reduce energy demand, provide hundreds of thousands of new jobs, as well as renewable energy programmes to help tackle climate change.

Mr Dixey says: "We should expand renewable energy projects which are easier to clean-up at the end of their working lives."

"We are in a recession and the nuclear industry creates far fewer jobs than renewable energy projects."

He concluded, "At a time when we need leadership toward a green and sustainable economy we are being taken back to a failed technology that has cost us billions of pounds."

"This will leave future generations with a legacy of lethal radioactive waste that will remain deadly for thousands of years."

Campaign to stop a new Opencast Coal Mine in Leicestershire

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

UK Coal put in their formal application for an opencast mine on the old Minorca site between Swepstone and Measham back in July 2009. Since then the Minorca Opencast Protest Group (MOPG) has fought a vigorous campaign to oppose the application. You can get more details of this campaign on either the MOPG Website or the page on the Leicestershire Villages Website.

The first round of consultations between Statutory Bodies and MOPG and Wardell Armstrong on behalf of UK Coal plc have now been completed. So far the following bodies have lodged objections to UK Coal's planning application:

English Nature
The Environment Directorate of NWLDC
The Environment Agency
MOPG
Measham Parish Council
North West Leicestershire District Council
Snarestone Parish Council
Swepstone / Newton Burgoland Parish Council.

Leicestershire County Council, who has to determine this application, are probably not going to make a decision until after Wardell Armstrong / UK Coal respond to these objections.

UK Coal is now in the position of preparing amendments to its original submission in light of the objections that have been raised in order to convince those who have raised objections that the issues will now be dealt with satisfactorily. They have unlimited time in which to do this.

Once the amendments to the planning application are submitted to Leicestershire County Council a new round of consultations gets underway. However, unlike UK Coal the consultees will have to respond within 21 days.

If the consultees now drop their objections, in light of the new evidence produced by UK Coal, then the application can proceed to being decided by the Development Control and Regulatory Board, LCC's executive body for this matter, probably in the New Year. (This is the position as at 8/12/09)

Deputy Leader Backs Local Candidate

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Adrian Ramsay, Deputy Leader of the Green Party, visited Leicester today to support the Green Party campaign for the Castle Ward Council by-elecion on Thursday.

Mr. Ramsay, who is Leader of a group of 13 Green Councillors in Norwich, said:

"I am delighted to be supporting the campaign of Dave Dixey and the Leicester Greens for this important by-election.

"The Green Councillors have made a real impact since they were elected in May 2007. They have brought a fresh voice to the Council and pushed through policies to improve road safety and insulate more people's homes.

"A Labour victory on Thursday would just increase their majority on the Council. A Green victory would ensure that Greens can continue to put forward their fresh ideas.

"It seems the Labour administration in Leicester is being slow to implement the 20mph speed limits for residential streets that Green Councillors persuaded the Council to back. If Dave Dixey is elected the Green Party will be able to challenge Labour to make road safety a priority for the whole city."

For more information, please get in touch .

Matt Follett makes a move

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Green Party Councillor Matt Follett tendered his resignation on Friday 24th July. This will mean a Council by-election in Castle Ward, probably in September, with Dave Dixey standing as the Green Party Candidate.
In a statement Cllr. Follett said :

"I'm very sad to be leaving Leicester, and consider it a privilege and an honour to have served the people of Castle ward for the last 2 and half years. My family commitments and job require me to spend more time on the South Coast. Unfortunately I can no longer sustain this as well as working as a Councillor.

" It is not fair on the constituents for me to be away and represent them as well as I would like. So, after much careful consideration I have decided to stand down as a Green Party Councillor for Castle. I am making way for another prospective Green Councillor, Dave Dixey, who can continue to dedicate himself fully as the role deserves.

"I've known Dave Dixey for years now and am delighted he has decided to stand for the job. He's a very committed and hard working guy and I am confident that the people of Castle will continue to be well served by him as a Green Party Councillor.

"I'd like to thank all the people who have expressed kind words about wanting me to stay. I hope that you understand, in sincere conscience, my stepping down is the right thing to do. I trust that you will continue to support the Green Party. Green Party Councillor Phil Gordon and Dave Dixey are an effective team who will uphold the high standards and positive politics that the Green Party delivers in Leicester."

Barney Smith, Castle Ward Campaign manager commented :

"Leicester Green Party is sorry to lose Matt, we will miss his drive and enthusiasm. Leicester has lost an original and authentic voice from the City Council. He made Leicester history as our first Green councillor by topping the poll in Castle Wardin the 2007 elections.

"Green Councillors Matt Follett and Phil Gordon have worked hard and have been successful in playing a positive role in council pushing the ruling party towards safer streets, free school meals and more loft insulation as well as speaking out againstacademy schools and the so-called Ecotown

"We look forward to an early by-election so that Castle ward can replace him. With Dave Dixey we have found a capable and committed Green candidate."

If you would like to get involved in any way with the by-election campaign, for example by canvassing or delivering leaflets, please emailBarney Smith at barneysmith47@googlemail.com

Free insulation for all

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Matt Follett, Green party Leader said today

"The Local Government Association and the Green Party have called for councils to provide nationwide free insulation, through a scheme based on the Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council model, that has by the Green Party Group of Councillors in Kirklees, a model which includes how it can be financed.

Insulating every home properly cuts fuel bills in the average home by up to half. This helps everyone at a time of rising energy prices, but especially people on low incomes in older, more run-down housing who - even though they can ill afford it - spend more of their income than the better off, just to keep warm.

The Green Party has shown that a universal free insulation scheme can work in Kirklees, Huddersfield where Green Councillors have made sure that 40,000 households will receive around £400 worth of insulation measures for absolutely nothing.

Last year, more homes were insulated like this in Kirkless than in the whole of Greater London.

If they can do it in Kirklees why can't we do it in Leicester?

The Green party is asking the city council to do the right thing here, as this will not only help face the challenge of climate change but also reduce fuel bills in these economically difficult times."

For further information, please contact us

Twenty is Plenty

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Green Party " Twenty is plenty" calls for 20mph speed limit outside schools as part of 'children's right to health safety, and justice'

At the council meeting of 26^th June, Green Party councillor Matt Follett will ask the ruling administration to follow the example of cities like Portsmouth, Norwich, Lancaster, and Aberdeen and implement tougher speed restrictions in order to improve road safety, and suggest that we should particularly focus on child safety around schools.

Cllr Follett said "There are 3 key reasons why this is a good idea:

Safety for children - The World Health Organisation has provided scientific evidence that the chances of pedestrian fatality are massively increased once you are above 20 mph
Health - the national cycling body the CTC have stated that people would ride bikes and walk more if it wasn't for safety concerns for children, so 20mph outside schools would help increase children's health
Social justice - the IPPR Streets Ahead report shows that child pedestrian injuries are four times as likely in poorer areas, than in richer areas.

Fellow Green party councillor and well known promoter of the benefits of cycling , Cllr Phil Gordon, added "Anyone who cycles regularly knows that you would increase cycle use, which would impact on safety and health, the environment and congestion, if you reduced car speeds. Its common sense to take action that will make parents feel safer about their children cycling and walking.

Lets all get behind this and recognise that, to coin a phrase, Twenty is plenty!"

Cllr Follett concluded "I want all parties at the council, and parents and schools, and the wider public, to get behind this, not get bogged down around issues of enforcement, and start taking positive action that will really kick start communities feeling confident in kids walking to school. We need to have children's rights to health, safety, and justice, and this would really help that.

Page 78 of WHO report "World Report on Road traffic Injury Prevention"

For further information call Matt Follett on 07890 564 754

Sociable guerrilla group give away free bags

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This Friday 18th April Foxybaggers, with the support of Leicester Green Party, will be giving away bags, in exchange for plastic ones, on Queens Road, Clarendon Park, starting at 11am.

Foxybaggers, an Oadby and Wigston based group who make and give away bags, is at the top of a worldwide league for the number of bags made. The 'sociable, guerrilla bagging' group aims to help reduce the number of plastic carrier bags used and then thrown away in Leicestershire by making bags from recycled cotton and then giving them away in the streets to shoppers.

Every bag given away could mean that 300 fewer plastic bags are used each year, most of which end up in landfill or as potential choking hazard for wildlife in the area.

The group (or pod as they are known) is part of a global network, founded in January 2007 by Claire Morsman. With well over 100 pods worldwide, and the number growing each week, the Leicestershire members are in good company.

Lesley Brown, who set up the local pod, says "making Morsbags is a really fun way to help improve the world in which we live. When we give the bags away free to shoppers, the surprise on their faces more than makes up for the hard work put in to each one. It's also a very social thing - we meet regularly and sew the bags while chatting and having a glass of wine or a cup of tea."

Barney Smith, from Leicester Green Party, says "we're happy to support Foxybaggers in their efforts. The local Green Party is campaigning to reduce plastic bag use in Clarendon Park, and this initiative can only help us all to achieve this aim. Giving away bags, which people have made from recycled materials, is a fun way to raise awareness of the issue."

If you miss Foxybaggers in Clarendon Park on Friday, then catch them again on Saturday on the Parade, Oadby from 11am. If you want to join in, donate cotton fabric, or set up your own pod, visit www.morsbags.com for more details (non-sewers are also welcome to help with making bags and handing them out to shoppers).

The group will be available for comment and photographs at 11am on Friday 18th April. They will be meeting outside Barclays bank on the corner of Queens Road and Clarendon Park Road. For more information please contact Charlotte Bilby on 07941 809 605

Green Party backs local protestors

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Spokespersons for Leicestershire Green Party backed local protestors in their fight against the proposed government pilot development.

Green party spokesperson Barney Smith said:

"In their submission to the City Council's Development Plan the Leicester Green Party made their policy clear;
'Use financial incentives to encourage re-use of old buildings and previously used sites, rather than building on greenfield sites.'

"The current proposals exemplify a consistent refusal to use existing resources.

"By being located away from any major public transport routes and being close to Leicester, this development is likely to generate large volumes of road transport on existing congested routes. Car-based developments are irresponsible given the increasing financial and environmental cost of oil production. We need to be looking at developments that facilitate more sustainable methods of transport."

Green party councillor Matt Follett added:
"This proposed development will generate huge land value increases for the current land-owner and it is not clear that these will be returned to the community (as in true New Towns) to pay for the cost of schools and other public facilities

"The green party welcomes the building of houses with high fuel and material conservation values, but we believe that this should and indeed could easily be how all new urban and rural developments are built if only the government took sustainable planning regulations seriously."

Greens lead the way in plastic bag reduction

Sun, 2 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

First came the Green Party Councillors' successful motion to Leicester City Council in November, asking the Council to "support and encourage retailers, businesses and commercial manufacturers to eliminate excessive packaging, in particular the widespread use of plastic bags, replacing them where necessary with reusable bags made from natural fibres or strong paper, and with cardboard boxes or carton"

This was followed up by the Party's campaign, in conjunction with Clarendon Park traders, to free Queens Road of free plastic bags. All traders who were approached supported the campaign, with the exception of Jackson 's. Most were happy to go along with a charge of 5p to those customers who really need one.

Even Jackson 's has compromised by displaying a poster on every till asking: "Do you really NEED another plastic bag?"

The Council has now followed the Green initiative by launching its own"green bag". Libraries and museums will no longer hand out plastic carriers, councillors have agreed. Businesses will be encouraged to join the scheme, which will be piloted in the city centre and neighbourhood shopping areas.

Councillor Robert Wann, the cabinet environment spokesman, said: "We felt we should set the example first before asking retailers to do it." Queens Road could pilot the extension of this scheme if given the go-ahead.

"There is no such thing as a free plastic bag," says Green Party Chair Barney Smith. "They have a cost in natural resources in manufacture and delivery. The trader has to pay for them. All customers pay for them in the price of their goods whether they use them or not. They are a cost to the Council in having to dispose of them. They are a cost to the environment in litter and pollution."

Plastic bag attack

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Leicester Greens Joined by Prime Minister in Plastic Bag AttackLeicester Greens have welcomed the Prime Minister's conversion to the policy of phasing out single-use plastic bags. See BBC News coverage

Cllr Matt Follett said:
"I am delighted to find that the Prime Minister has moved towards the Green Party's position on this issue. The Green Group on Leicester Council had already tabled a motion, to be voted on this Thursday, asking the Council to strive towards a reduction in plastic bag use, and to lobby the Government to do so too."

Cllr Phil Gordon said:

"Of course the Government should go much further, but I do welcome the intention to tackle the wasteful use of plastic bags by supermarkets and other retailers."

Cllr Follett added:
"I hope and expect that other parties will back this motion, as it gives Leicester the opportunity to send out a message that the Council is prepared to encourage change on these issues. We have welcomed the Council's recent climate change strategy. These things can always go further, of course, but at this stage we need to be positive about trying to make Leicester once again a leading city on the environment."

Cllr Phil Gordon said:
"What really pleases me is that this is another example of us working towards cross party support , and not engaging in the usual political bun fights."

Motion submitted by Green Group
REDUCING PLASTIC BAG USE

This Council seeks to support and encourage retailers, businesses and commercial manufacturers to reduce excessive packaging, in particular the widespread use of plastic bags.

This Council notes that:

1. The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 aim to minimise the amount of waste packaging generated at source and ensure that packaging can be reused, recovered or recycled, and that the Landfill Directive requires the UK to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by more than half by 2013, and to around a quarter of the current level by 2020.

2. Annually an estimated total of around 17Â½ billion plastic bags are handed out by supermarkets in the UK. This is enough plastic to cover the combined metropolitan areas of London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and West Yorkshire.

3. A plastic bag can take between 400 to 1,000 years to break down in the environment, and in the UK alone at least 200 million plastic bags end up as waste on our beaches, streets and parks ever year.

4. The reduction of the amount of plastic bags produced by supermarkets and convenience stores would therefore make a significant contribution to Leicester's ability to meet its waste reduction targets, and would protect our environment.

5. London councils have found overwhelming public support and a survey by the Market research Bureau showed that If supermarkets stopped supplying free plastic bags, 14% of respondents said they would be prepared to pay £2 or more for a re-usable woven shopping bag that would last for up to a year, 64% said they would pay between 50p and £1, while 11% thought that 20p was a fair price.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1. Require the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs requesting that the Government commissions a report on the options for reductions in plastic bag use, to include an assessment of the effects of a 20p per bag levy.

2. In Leicester seek to support and encourage retailers, businesses and commercial manufacturers to eliminate excessive packaging, in particular the widespread use of plastic bags, replacing them where necessary with reusable bags made from natural fibres or strong paper, and with cardboard boxes or cartons.

Save our Post Office

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On June 30 2007, Councillor Matt Follett and other Green Party members took part in a demonstration against the closure of Bishop Street Post Office.

It took place outside W H Smith's in Gallowtree Gate, whose basement is supposed to replace the Bishop Street facilities.

Councillor Follett said: "One reason for this proposed closure is that the Post Office needs to make savings in order to compete against private firms. This is a result of enforced competition under EU rules, which were strongly supported by the UK Government - and only a few days ago Gordon Brown himself intervened to prevent the EU's free market principles from being watered down by such old-fashioned notions as worker protection."

The Green Party believes that the privatisation of the Post Office, in part or full, is against the interests of people living in rural and urban communities.

Council procurement and the local economy

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Green Party Councillor Matt Follett (Castle Ward) put the following question to today's full Council meeting:

"Does the Leader of the Council / relevant Cabinet Lead feel that more could be done to use Council procurement to encourage sustainable local businesses and jobs?".

In reply Councillor Kitterick listed three ways in which the procurement process could be used for this purpose. He added that the most important of these (using the tendering process for new supply contracts) could not be used because the Council was disbarred by EU competition rules from favouring local suppliers in this way (1).

In his supplementary, Councillor Follett referred to a recent news report that Gordon Brown had put pressure on Tony Blair to oppose President Sarkozy's attempts to water down the EU's commitment to rigid free-market ideology. (2)

"When it comes to a choice between market forces and a sustainable local economy," he said, "it seems to be a case of 'Here comes the new boss, same as the old boss - if not more so!'"

NOTES

(1) All Councils in the UK are required by law to comply with the EU Public Procurement Directives for the advertising and the award of Contracts.

(2) "Gordon Brown dramatically intervened in a crucial European summit yesterday to overrule the prime minister in his last week in office and demand that Britain challenge a French move to dilute Europe's commitment to a free market." (Guardian, June 23)

"The new French president said the treaty should protect workers, reject cut-throat competition and turn its back fully on US-style free-market economics. "The word 'protection' is no longer taboo," he said. All of which had Tony Blair and Gordon Brown (not to mention the European commission itself) fuming. The only salvation for Europe, they argue, is to embrace fully open competition, deregulation and flexible labour markets."
(Larry Elliott, Guardian, June 25)

(3) To find out more about the danger to local democracy posed by the EU's aggressively free-market policies, see http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=6611.

(4) EU anti-environmental free-market policies were drastically strengthened in the 2000 Lisbon Strategy, which was opposed by the Green Group.

"The European Parliament.....is concerned about the de facto subordination of the EU internal Lisbon competitiveness strategy to the EU's external competitiveness goals as outlined in the Commission communication 'Global Europe Competing in the World'; warns against an EU competitiveness policy which is exclusively geared to the global transaction needs of EU-based transnational companies, to the detriment of the social interests of European workers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which need a cautious approach to global competition; warns against the envisaged international regulatory cooperation, which will give transnational companies and third states a sort of right to intervene in EU legislation concerning Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade (NTBs), which, according to the WTO definition, also include important parts of social, environmental and consumer rights and future law-making...." part of a Greens/EFA motion for a resolution at the EU Spring Council 2007 in relation to the Lisbon Strategy"

(5) Possible ways to get round EU procurement regulations, and to reduce food miles while supplying healthy local produce to schools and hospitals .

City Failing on Renewable Energy

Tue, 1 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Council ignores its own target for renewable energy on major development

A huge question mark has been placed over Leicester Council's commitment to cut CO2 emissions and tackle climate change. Inquiries by the Leicester Green Party have indicated that the Council's target to generate electricity from renewable energy is not being implemented on a major building development in the City, the Shires Extension.

"It appears that the Council has failed to hold developers to an energy condition set out in the City of Leicester's Local Plan, which calls for a ten percent renewable energy target," said Matt Follett, the Green Party's lead candidate for Castle Ward in the May 3 council elections. "This target is a progressive one that is intended to become more rigorous on later developments. It is a matter of concern if it is already being ignored."

He added: "The Shires extension is a massive development, which can become the benchmark standard in renewable energy measures for other major developments to follow. So it's important to hold developers to energy conditions as set out in the Local Plan. We have written to Planning Management and Delivery on Leicester Council, asking them to confirm what renewable energy measures are being implemented in this development, and to justify any omission."

Matt pointed out: "Another failure under the current leadership was the loss of a £5.1 million government grant to help set up an energy service company to generate renewable energy for Leicester, to reduce energy bills and earn revenue for the city. The previous Labour administration also failed to make energy saving a top priority.

"For all their rhetoric and the occasional green announcement, only one thing really matters: is the Council doing enough to cut CO2 emissions? It's absolutely critical that we accept no compromise on this. Most of the solutions to climate change already exist. The problem is a lack of political will to drive them forward."

Thanks to climate change the Greenland ice is gradually melting; eventually sea levels could rise up to 30 feet, submerging parts of the UK and many other countries across the world (Reference: "Melting ice 'will' swamp capitals", Independent, 7/12/2003).
Temperature rises are linked to climate change. During the heat wave in the summer of 2003, high temperatures killed 20,000 people in Europe.
Climate change may be to blame for some 150,000 deaths each year, according to the UN Agency on 11/12/04 (Reference: AP 12/12/2003).
Around one in four species could be extinct by 2050 (Reference: BBC News, Wednesday, 7/1/2004).

Domestic energy saving strategie

Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Keith Baker Dwellings account for 27.5% of the UK's annual energy consumption, revealed Keith Baker in a talk at the 'Engaging Cogs' event 'Hungry for Energy - Will we ever have enough?' in Aberdeen on May 22.

Keith is an active member of Leicester Green Party and a co-editor of the new Community Energy website.

If the UK is to meet even the most conservative emissions reduction targets, he added, then a strategy is needed that engages academia, industry, NGOs and politicians, but most of all the public.

Increases in energy efficiency, he said, are in danger of being minimised or cancelled out by the rise in demand. The thermal inefficiency of the average UK dwelling means that up to 40% of energy efficiency improvements may be realised in improving comfort rather than reducing consumption.

The most rapid change in domestic energy consumption is the amount of electricity consumed by lights and appliances; this has doubled in the last 35 years. It is in this area that a co-ordinated strategy should have the greatest potential to reduce emissions.

Venezuela has already banned conventional tungsten bulbs, and will soon be followed by Australia and California. In the EU the Energy-using Products directive (EuP) has received industry backing and will provide a massive boost to appliance energy efficiency and eco-design.

Yet reducing consumption also requires a concerted effort to influence behaviour and technology choice through effective public communication. The Blue Peter Green Book has been credited as driving the recycling of domestic waste by 'pester power' and, similarly, energy inefficiency will need to become a societal stigma in order to make a real impact on emissions.

Improving energy efficiency is the key weapon in our arsenal against climate change, but renewables and distributed generation will have major roles to play in a sustainable future.

Domestic renewables and micro-CHP are becoming cheaper and more widespread, with the latter now more cost-effective than installing an A-rated boiler, but barriers to their installation still exist.

It is in these areas that policy-makers and engineers need to exert their collective influences.Agenda 21 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development set out the theme of 'Think global, act local'.

To reduce domestic energy demand and improve efficiency, this idea is now more relevant than ever. See http://www.engagingcogs.org/

National Green Party Principal Speaker rides into town

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Green Party's Female Principal Speaker, Sian Berry, came to Leicester today to support Green candidates in the election campaign. She travelled from the station in one of the new-style E-Go rickshaws, to symbolise the Green Party's commitment to carbon-free transport.

She was welcomed by Matt Follett, the Green Party's lead candidate in Castle Ward, who said "I am delighted Sian Berry has come to our city to show how seriously the Green Party takes the elections in Leicester. As many people know, we tied with Labour last time in Castle Ward, only to lose in a drawing of lots. We know many voters out there want to see some Green Party representation in Leicester.

We are the party and the people with fresh ideas for Leicester."

He added " Sian has shown what can be done in campaigns to protect small shops against the supermarkets muscling in on small high streets like Queens Road. We'll continue to fight to protect smaller shops from planning applications that don't add to residents' quality of life."

Matt Follett showed her some of the Clarendon Park shops now threatened by a retail development recently given Council go-ahead. Later, Sian joined Matt and other campaigners in canvassing in Castle Ward, which is the most marginal in the country.

Sian said: "Everyone in the Green Party knows how close Leicester Greens came to winning in the city centre ward last time, having tied with Labour, enduring 4 full recounts, and then the names being drawn from a hat!

"I know from visiting other cities that once places get Green councillors they always want more at the following election because of the good job they do, and because more and more people share our vision of a society where quality of life is given priority over political infighting, big business interests and badly thought out planning developments.

"I know that Matt and the others fought against the supermarket expansion in Queens Road, and I give my wholehearted support to their plans to maintain a city-wide campaign against such short-sighted planning decisions which are blighting cities across the UK. I urge everybody in Leicester to vote Green. It's a vote for the present and for the future."

Sian, 32, is the Green Party's Principal Speaker and London Mayoral candidate. Previously the Party's national Campaigns Co-ordinator, she has become one of the best known faces in the national political media.

Sian is one of the founders of the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s, which is a national campaign demanding sensible measures to stop big 4x4 vehicles taking over our cities. Supporters of the campaign have placed more than 100,000 of Sian's spoof 'parking tickets' on 4x4s in the past three years, and held theatrical demonstrations outside schools and car dealerships in towns and cities across the country.

As spokesperson for the Alliance, and a well known Green Party figure, Sian has received wide coverage in national and international newspapers and has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, from the Today Programme and Question Time, to Richard and Judy.

Working on a wide range of issues in London, Sian has supported local shops, markets and services threatened with closures, takeovers and redevelopment.

Derek Wall leads climate change

Mon, 7 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

On May 7, 2007, Derek Wall, one of the Green Party's two national Principal Speakers, was invited to lead a climate change discussion at Leicester Social Forum's May Day Festival of Alternatives, which took place at Regent College.

He said there were two essential things to know about cimate change.

In the words of Hugo Chavez, "If we all consume like Americans we will need five earths."
Like all the big ecological issues, climate change is political.

Useful though it was in raising the profile of climate change, he said, the Stern Report's accountancy approach had its dangers. For example, a frequent flier could pay a large amount in carbon offsets and claim to be carbon neutral.

This was like a twenty-a-day cigarette smoker paying for tobacco education in China and claiming that made him healthy. A good deal of so-called carbon offsetting was simply fraudulent, while carbon trading offered literally a licence to pollute. There was, he said, no substitute for legislation.

Society was addicted to excessive economic activity, and it was time to take the needle out of its arm. Governments must make it easier for individuals to leave a smaller carbon footprint - to live close to work, to use public transport, to buy local produce.

Threat to Clarendon Park shops

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The campaign to retain the distinctive character of Clarendon Park was a focus of the visit to Leicester by Green Party National Speaker Sian Berry, who was shown several of the shops threatened by supermarket expansion and chatted to shopkeepers.

She said "I know that Matt and the others fought against the supermarket expansion in Queens Road, and I give my wholehearted support to their plans to maintain a city-wide campaign against such short-sighted planning decisions which are blighting cities across the UK.

I urge everybody in Leicester to vote Green. It's a vote for the present and for the future."

Background to the Clarendon Park shops dispute

February 18, 2007

Greens support local campaign to stop expansion of Queen's Rd supermarket

Castle Green Party spokesperson, said: "Greens are appalled at the news that Jacksons' on Queen's Road, who are owned by the multinational supermarket, Sainsbury's, are to double the floor size and sell everything bar the kitchen sink. The Green Party is well known for its support of local businesses, local food and sustainable communities.

We support the local campaign to collect signatures for a petition against extending the Jacksons-Sainsbury's Supermarket."

Sian Berry and Matt Follett outside the Offie in Clarendon Park Matt continued: "Supermarkets like Sainsbury's have helped to destroy many flourishing high streets in the UK. Enough is enough. Surely the people of Clarendon Park are not going to allow Sainsbury's to get its greedy mitts on more trade on Queen's Road. It's impossible to have a larger Jacksons' and small still sustainable communities."

He finished: " Therefore, we challenge Leicester Council right now to throw out the proposal without a second thought. Rest assured the Green Party will do everything it can to stop this and we urge others to object to this proposal."

Further Note, March 27

Leicester Green Party condemned the decision by the Lib Dem / Tory Council to give the go-ahead for the expansion of the Supermarket. "This is a bitter disappointment for many residents and small shops who opposed the development," said Green Party spokesperson Matt Follett. "The quality of life of local people is more important than supermarket profits."

"The new Sainsbury's store will damage business for many small independent shops on Queen's Road," he added. "With many of them operating on tight margins, the new store could strangle the life out of them, destroying the character of the area and turning Queen's Road into another high street clone."

First ever Greens elected to Leicester Council

Fri, 4 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

History has been made. For the first time in living memory, Leicester has elected councillors from outside the three main parties. In Castle Ward, the Green Party's Matt Follett topped the poll with 1319 votes and the Green Party's Phil Gordon came second with 988.

Matt Follett said:

"I'm absolutely delighted that people in Castle have given such a vindication of the policies we put forward. Our positive style of campaigning has paid off. We went out on the doorsteps and met people and spoke to them - and people responded.

This result is a tribute to the people of Castle, who have dared to venture outside the political mainstream, and above all to Bob Ball, the candidate who came so close in 2003. He set the foundations of this victory, and his advice and planning helped to ensure it."

Phil Gordon said:

"What has pleased me most is that we've been able to bring a smile back into politics. There is far too much cynicism. The people in Castle believed we could make a difference, and it is now up to us to satisfy the expectations we have raised."

News - Leicester Green Party

5th May election results

Referendum on Mayor

GREEN PARTY MAYORAL CANDIDATEPROMISES REFERENDUM ON MAYOR

We can do something!

Vote for AV as a vote for change

Greens reject pay rise for Mayor

Greens reject pay rise for city mayor as crass and insensitive

Greens overtake Lib Dems in Scotland

Green Party select mayoral candidate

Anti-cuts Protest March - London 26 March 2011

Observations by Bob Ball who was on the march

Among the slogans were:

YES! To Fairer Votes

Preserve Aylestone Meadows

Debate between political parties at the `Green Light` Festival

Leicester Green Party welcomes NHS call for 20mph limits

Health directors’ new report agrees with long-standing Green Party policy(1)

The reports main points include:

Notes

Undemocratic: Labour push through consultation for mayor

Leicester Zero Carbon Concert

Saturday 27th November

Sunday 28th November

Elected Mayor - Leicester’s X-Factor

Let people decide on elected mayor?

March in Leicester to defend public sector jobs and services

Phil’s memorial tree

Memorial Tree planting

Phil Gordon

Reasons for Older People to vote Green

2010 General election candidates

Greens push for strong Copenhage

Greens push for strong Copenhagen climate deal at 'The Wave' demo in London - 5 december 2009

Go Green not Nuclear

Campaign to stop a new Opencast Coal Mine in Leicestershire

Deputy Leader Backs Local Candidate

Matt Follett makes a move

Free insulation for all

Twenty is Plenty

Sociable guerrilla group give away free bags

Green Party backs local protestors

Greens lead the way in plastic bag reduction

Plastic bag attack

Motion submitted by Green GroupREDUCING PLASTIC BAG USE

Save our Post Office

Council procurement and the local economy

City Failing on Renewable Energy

Domestic energy saving strategie

National Green Party Principal Speaker rides into town

Derek Wall leads climate change

Threat to Clarendon Park shops

Background to the Clarendon Park shops dispute

February 18, 2007

Further Note, March 27

First ever Greens elected to Leicester Council

GREEN PARTY MAYORAL CANDIDATE
PROMISES REFERENDUM ON MAYOR

Motion submitted by Green Group
REDUCING PLASTIC BAG USE